Marabu and Koenig & Bauer – Innovation, Collaboration, and Personalisation

Digital printing on glass is an incredible innovation, but not one without its complexities. A collaboration between Marabu Inks and Kammann/Koenig and Bauer has facilitated a unique solution in this space, combining their respective specialisms in chemical and mechanical engineering. At the FuturePrint Tech Fest, the companies discussed the solution and their journey as close partners from the research and development stage through to the market launch in the session ‘Innovative Digital Print Solution For Glass - A Marabu and Koenig & Bauer Collaboration’.

The personalisation megatrend shows no signs of slowing down, as younger generations in particular embrace individual brand and product experiences. Ink manufacturer Marabu broke the statistics down in more granular detail during the FuturePrint Tech Fest session citing that Baby Boomers reported demand for personalization of 27%, while it was 32% of Gen Xers, millennials have a demand of 45% and Generation Z saw the highest demand for personalisation at 53%.

Personalisation and the capacity to produce ‘batch of one’ opens up the doors for new and growing markets such as craft breweries and boutique wineries. Far from personalised labels being the only opportunity, these trendy companies are interested in generating individualised glass containers that set them apart from the competition. Not to be outdone by the up-and-comers, big hitters in spirits for example can also greatly benefit from this innovative glass printing technology to reaffirm their high-end image.

Another significant advantage of this innovation is the increased freedom it affords designers. The combination of haptic and visual effect, as well as colour and structures opens new doors within the design process. “Especially where conventional processes are reaching their limits, digital printing in combination with haptic effects onto substrates drives diversity and freedom in design and decoration,” says Tim Schnelle, Sales Manager, Koenig and Bauer Kammann.

Tim Schnelle, Sales Manager, Koenig and Bauer Kammann.

Tobias Lang, Product Manager, Marabu

An overarching theme of the FuturePrint Tech Fest was collaboration, and this partnership between Marabu and Kamman/Koenig and Bauer is a prime example of how the integration of expertise leads to outstanding innovation. Tobias Lang, Product Manager, Marabu Inks, explains: “We have the best of both worlds: the chemical world and the mechanical world. There are big benefits for our joint customers, because they will always have contacts at both companies regarding product safety, regarding chemical laws, regarding application parameters. Kammann is a great support for new customers learning their process.”

SAVE THE DATE: Frazer Chesterman of FuturePrint will be hosting a special webinar with Marabu and Koenig and Bauer on Innovative Digital Glass Printing on 23rd September, 3pm BST/4pm CET – more details to follow.

Watch the FuturePrint Tech Fest session, ‘Innovative Digital Print Solution For Glass - A Marabu and Koenig & Bauer Collaboration’, here.